News

Saddam legacy looms over Iraq, decade after arrest

A decade after Saddam Hussein's arrest, the now-executed Iraqi dictator's legacy of conflicts, sanctions and repression still exact a heavy toll on the country.

Dec 11, 2013

Protests erupt after condemned Islamist leader wins 11th hour reprieve in Bangladesh

Dhaka, Dec 11 (ANI): Protests erupted in Bangladesh after Jamaat-e-Islami leader Abdul Quader Mollah won a dramatic stay of execution, hours before he was due to be hanged, according to his lawyers, allaying fears for now of a violent backlash less than a month before elections are due in the country. Mollah, who was found guilty in February of war crimes committed during the 1971 war of independence from Pakistan and was due to be hanged at one minute past midnight at Dhaka Central Jail.

Dec 11, 2013

Advani says he feels vindicated by Pawar's weak Cong leadership comment

New Delhi, Dec 11 (ANI): Senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader LK Advani on Wednesday said that he felt vindicated by Union Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar's recent comment that the electoral defeat of the Congress in four out of five states, was due to weak leadership.

Dec 11, 2013

Centre signs Peace Pact with Daimary Faction of NDFB in Assam

Assam, Dec 11 (ANI): On November 29, a Suspension of Operation (SoO) agreement was signed between the Central Government, the Assam government and the Ranjan Daimary faction of the National Democratic Front of Bodoland (NDFB). The agreement will be valid for 6 months, after which it will be reviewed again.

Dec 11, 2013

Supreme Courts verdict on gay sex sparks debate among politicians

New Delhi, Dec 11 (ANI): Supreme Court’s verdict on gay sex has sparked debate among politicians on Wednesday after it threw out a 2009 ruling by a lower court that had decriminalised gay sex (December 11), in a major setback for the cause of gay rights in the world's largest democracy. Congress leader Mani Shankar Aiyar said that appropriate steps should be taken to ensure all Indians are treated equally. Janata Dal-United leader Shivanand Tiwari said that the court should reconsider its decision. The TMC also expressed disappointment over the verdict.

Dec 11, 2013

Asarams son Narayan Sai has accepted rape charges: Surat Police

Surat, Dec 11 (ANI): The Surat Police on Wednesday claimed that self-styled godman Asaram's son Narayan Sai had accepted the rape allegations levelled against him. Sai also revealed to the police during interrogation that he had physical relationships with eight of his female disciples.

Dec 11, 2013

Ten rebels lay down their arms in Maoist hotbed Chhattisgarh

Bijapur, Dec 11 (ANI): Ten rebels laid down their arms before police in Maoists hotbed of Chhattisgarh. Superintendent of police in Bijapur district, Prashant Agrawal, said that the Maoists were disappointed by the high-handedness of senior cadres and atrocities on tribals.

Dec 11, 2013

Tehelka sexual assault case: Tejpal's custody extended

Panaji, Dec 11 (ANI): A metropolitan court in Panaji, on Wednesday, placed rape accused Tehelka editor Tarun Tejpal in judicial custody for twelve days. The custodial order was given after Tejpal was produced before the court on expiry of his extended police custody of four days today.

Dec 11, 2013